Wake Robin is a folk band featuring Hannah Standiford (banjo, guitar, voice), Judy Swanson (fiddle, voice), and Annick Odom (bass, voice). Wake Robin takes its name from the wake robin, another name for trillium, a wildflower that blooms each spring throughout Appalachian forests. Like the flower, the trio's music is deeply connected to place, drawing together old songs, new stories, and traditions that continue to bloom in the present.
Based in Pittsburgh, the group's sound reflects the diverse backgrounds of its members. Judy Swanson spent years studying classical violin before happily wandering into the world of fiddle tunes, folk songs, and harmony singing. Hannah Standiford draws inspiration in her own songwriting and style from both Appalachian old-time music and kroncong traditions from Indonesia. Belgian-American Annick Odom is a bassist, composer, storyteller, and enthusiastic organizer of musical adventures rooted in West Virginia traditions and community participation.
The trio moves easily between haunting ballads, close-harmony singing, driving fiddle tunes, originals, and songs that invite audiences to join in. A performance might feature a centuries-old ballad, a tune learned from Appalachian musicians, a newly written song inspired by the people and places of the region, or an Iris DeMent or Bob Dylan favorite. At the heart of Wake Robin's music is a belief that folk traditions are living things, meant to be shared, adapted, and carried forward. Whether performing in a theater, arts center, festival, listening room, brewery, or community gathering, the trio creates performances that feel like a gathering of friends.
Recent appearances include Meadville Summer Solstice Festival, Millvale Music Festival, Confluence Creative Arts Center, Jerry Run Summer Theater, Birdfish Brewing's Wintergrass, Acoustic Music Works, Government Center in Pittsburgh, the West Virginia Botanic Garden, The Ferry House in Morgantown, and venues throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio.
Based in Pittsburgh, the group's sound reflects the diverse backgrounds of its members. Judy Swanson spent years studying classical violin before happily wandering into the world of fiddle tunes, folk songs, and harmony singing. Hannah Standiford draws inspiration in her own songwriting and style from both Appalachian old-time music and kroncong traditions from Indonesia. Belgian-American Annick Odom is a bassist, composer, storyteller, and enthusiastic organizer of musical adventures rooted in West Virginia traditions and community participation.
The trio moves easily between haunting ballads, close-harmony singing, driving fiddle tunes, originals, and songs that invite audiences to join in. A performance might feature a centuries-old ballad, a tune learned from Appalachian musicians, a newly written song inspired by the people and places of the region, or an Iris DeMent or Bob Dylan favorite. At the heart of Wake Robin's music is a belief that folk traditions are living things, meant to be shared, adapted, and carried forward. Whether performing in a theater, arts center, festival, listening room, brewery, or community gathering, the trio creates performances that feel like a gathering of friends.
Recent appearances include Meadville Summer Solstice Festival, Millvale Music Festival, Confluence Creative Arts Center, Jerry Run Summer Theater, Birdfish Brewing's Wintergrass, Acoustic Music Works, Government Center in Pittsburgh, the West Virginia Botanic Garden, The Ferry House in Morgantown, and venues throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio.